Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3)(114)

When the wolf turned to her, she held that amber gaze without fear, with love. “He deserved to die.” She felt no pity for Renault, felt nothing but the ache of justice long denied. “My mother, all his other victims, they can rest in peace now.”

The wolf padded to her. Fisting a hand in his fur, she buried her face against his warm body and she cried. For all the years lost. For all the lives taken. For the battle won.





Chapter 53


Shoot first and ask questions of the corpses.

—Rumored motto of the SnowDancer wolves


THE WOLF THAT was Alexei glanced up at Judd as the other man walked up to the scene of the execution. Taking in the blood and Renault’s lifeless body, his friend said, “You want to disappear this?” He placed Alexei’s discarded clothing to one side.

While Alexei hadn’t needed Judd’s help to keep Renault from teleporting out, his fellow lieutenant had helped him get inside. Alexei had given him a boost up so Judd could look in a small window at the far end of the warehouse, gain a visual inside the space. They hadn’t been able to see Memory from their spot, but Alexei had scented her, his wolf prowling under his skin.

Judd had teleported them both inside.

And Memory had thrown the wrench after warning him of her intent. Alexei had never known the mating bond could be used that way—and perhaps only an empath could communicate with emotion with such specificity—but regardless, he loved it. Knowing his mate could reach him via the bond if she was ever in danger, it satisfied his every protective instinct.

Waiting until she’d cried herself out and was taking deep, steadying breaths while petting his back, Alexei shifted. He knew he was splattered in blood and that it appeared even more savage in human form than in wolf, but Memory just undid her pretty scarf and used it to wipe his face, his hands. “There,” she said quietly, and he knew deep inside that she accepted all of him, the primal and the human.

Alexei regretted nothing of what he’d done—but he regretted having done it in front of his E. Cradling her close, he nuzzled her curls. “You okay?” It came out a growl, his wolf yet at the surface.

“Yes. He was only pain, only horror. He gave nothing good to the world.” A grim smile. “It had to be done.”

“Sorry I acted too fast to let you get your licks in.” He felt bad about that, though not about saving his empath from carrying a death on her conscience. It’d have eaten at her. His wolf, on the other hand, had zero trouble with dispatching a serial murderer.

The human side of him was also fine with it.

“It’s all right.” Memory’s smile was pure lioness. “I made him break his own nose and that gives me great pleasure. Amara would be proud.”

When he raised an eyebrow, she shrugged. “I had to think tricky and sly.”

“Got it.” Rising after a hard promise of a kiss, Alexei pulled on his pants while Judd examined the scene.

“There’s another body,” Memory said as she got to her feet, her tone sad. “Security guard.”

“We’ll make sure he’s treated with dignity.” Renault on the other hand . . . Alexei knew that if he wanted, Judd, Hawke, and the rest of his pack could and would disappear all evidence of the psychopath’s death. The cats would help. But he narrowed his eyes and said, “I think the world needs to be reminded what happens to people who attempt to take a SnowDancer’s mate.” He held out his hand.

Memory took it. Her eyes were red but her spirit bright. His lioness. His mate. His.

“It won’t cause trouble for your pack?”

Alexei shot her a surely feral smile. “We don’t exactly have a sweet and fluffy public image.” Wrapping his arm around her, he cuddled her against his bare chest. “All else aside, Renault was a serial killer who’d taken you prisoner and was threatening to murder you.” A shrug. “I’d like to see Enforcement do anything but say thanks for taking out the garbage.”



* * *



? ? ?

ENFORCEMENT all but shook his hand.

Then Hawke called to say SnowDancer had shifted Alexei to quarters for a mated pair. Of course his alpha knew he’d mated. And the asshole wasn’t shy about showing off his knowledge. Yet the call wasn’t about that—it was about acceptance. Though Memory remained in the PsyNet, she was Alexei’s mate, and as such, she was welcome in the den.



* * *



? ? ?

ALEXEI was painfully conscious of his mate’s quietness on the way back to her cabin, but said nothing until they were inside. It had begun to rain again, the sky as heavy as his heart. “You’re going to have nightmares, aren’t you?” He’d torn out a man’s throat in front of an empath, what the hell did he expect?

“What?” A shake of her head. “No, it’s not that.” Eyes turning obsidian, she shifted to stand toe-to-toe with him. “We’re mated. Are you sorry?” It was a scowling challenge.

He growled at her, his wolf adoring her beyond life. “Never.” Thrusting his hands into her curls, he nipped at her lower lip before admitting the depth of his selfishness. “I should be sorry that I’ve put you at risk, but I’m not.

“You’re inside my heart and you’re shadow and light and beauty and the best part of me.” It terrified him that he’d hurt her as Brodie had hurt Etta, but his fear was no match for the depth of his joy. “Before, I didn’t know what I was missing. I’ll never give it up.”